MEDIUM
CVE-2020-16261
CWE-284Published: October 28, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
6.8
CVSS v3.1
Official Description
Winston 1.5.4 devices allow a U-Boot interrupt, resulting in local root access.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2020-16261 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 6.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploitability
Attack VectorPhysical
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected Vendors & Products
winstonprivacy2 product(s)
winston firmwarewinston
Source: NVD CPE · 2 total CPE entries
Exploit & PoC Resources
NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (4)
→
https://labs.bishopfox.com/advisories/winston-privacy-version-1.5.4Exploit · Third Party Advisory
→
https://winstonprivacy.com/Product
→
https://labs.bishopfox.com/advisories/winston-privacy-version-1.5.4Exploit · Third Party Advisory
→
https://winstonprivacy.com/Product
Quick Facts
CVE IDCVE-2020-16261
CVSS Score6.8 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-284
CISA KEVNo
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedOct 28, 2020
Related CVEs (CWE-284)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2020-16261 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.